Just about every day the media presents new evidence of bullying, neglected and mistreated children, juvenile prostitution, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, youth gangs and all the other problems that seem to afflict the children and youth of our society. Cries of distress and outrage go up and there is a universal feeling that something … Continue reading Somebody ought to do something
faith
Kindness does more than violence
Here is another story that was told to Ruben Saillens. An Anabaptist and his wife were sleeping peacefully in their hut at the edge of the road, when some young men returning from a party in a neighbouring village passed by. “Look. Here’s the home of the old Anabaptist. Why don’t we play a trick … Continue reading Kindness does more than violence
How can we be sure that Christ arose?
There are people in our day who say that Jesus never existed. However, there are references to Jesus in first century writings by both Jewish scholars and Roman officials. No one from that era ever denied that Jesus was a real person. The gospels are eye witness accounts and the authenticity of their accounts on … Continue reading How can we be sure that Christ arose?
By faith, not by sight
"To be honest, I believe part of the desire to 'know God's will for my life' is based on fear and results in paralysis. We are scared to make mistakes, so we fret over figuring out God's will. We wonder what living according to His will would actually look and feel like, and we are … Continue reading By faith, not by sight
The Lonely Ache of Popularity
Bill was tall, fair, handsome, sensitive. He was also the Eighth Grade football hero ‒ the one who scored the goals and carried the home team to victory. Girls in the top two grades were openly–or secretly–nuts about him. Like Grace, the girl who lived down the street from him. She was a nobody, shy … Continue reading The Lonely Ache of Popularity
Who were the “sons of God” in Genesis 6?
There are three lines of thought on this: 1. They were angels who took human wives. 2. They were kings exercising the “right of the first night” with any woman who was being given in marriage. 3. They were men from the godly lineage of Seth who took wives from the ungodly lineage of Cain. … Continue reading Who were the “sons of God” in Genesis 6?
What does the Bible say about — the Bible?
Before going too far, we should understand the Bible used in Jesus’ time. The Old Testament was not a book like we use today, but consisted of a number of scrolls, grouped as the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. The Law consisted of the first five books of the Bible, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, … Continue reading What does the Bible say about — the Bible?
Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water
Geswende Bamogo was already an old man when the Christian Service International workers came to his village in 1977 to drill a well. The well was dry, but the old papa saw something in these men that became a spring of living water in his life. He visited often, learning all he could about their … Continue reading Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water
Hockey pool church
Every morning, in offices across Canada, folks check how their fantasy hockey team is faring in the office hockey pool. It starts in the fall with individuals picking an imaginary team from the list of active NHL players. The aggregate scoring statistics of those players then determines the winner of the hockey pool. I have … Continue reading Hockey pool church
Hasn’t learned the rules yet
Last Sunday as we were walking up the stairs afterSunday School, I took note of our youngest minister and his youngest daughter ahead of me. Heidi, two years and almost four months old, was walking up the stairs beside her dad, her right in his. In her left hand was the strap for her dad's … Continue reading Hasn’t learned the rules yet
Flatlander Faith 